*The Adventures of Pinocchio* by Carlo Collodi

We finished reading this book tonight. We agreed it was a hit.

Believe it or not, with 9 children, we had NEVER read the classic version of Pinocchio.

When we began the older children were a bit skeptical. They "knew" the whole story of Pinocchio. The first thing they noted was that the writing style is vastly different than the style of today. Jamin and Jared both noted the 3 line long chapter titles that always gave away the plot of the chapter. LOL Jamin loved the vocabulary. After just one night of reading we agreed that this book was going to be different than the Disney version.

We voted tonight and everyone liked the book better than the movie or the Disney book.

Wednesday - isn't it?

Things I accomplished today:

Parenting - this was most the day since Stacia wants MOM. Her fever is much better today and I'm hoping for a good night sleep.

School - the kids got done their independent work. Couch school didn't happen. However, Arielle and Nolan built a fort out of boxes from the past two days of co-op. I quickly improvised and asked them how what they were doing was like the Pilgrims in Plymouth. They talked about working together to build a shelter, how hard it was with very little materials and they wondered if life wouldn't have been easier for the Pilgrims if they had duct tape. ::snort:: I counted that as school.

Kitchen - I baked and pureed pumpkins. I made an apple pie. I boiled a chicken - it was meant for dinner but things went wild.

Errands - I had to run out for Motrin. While there I bought some things to get a package out to Mike....I'll have to share more about that later. {g} Hmmm...let me just say that the kids and I wanted Mike to be able to participate in Thanksgiving family traditions overseas....

Family - we finished reading Pinochhio. Jamin and Jared read tonight so that Arielle and I can stitch on our Thanksgiving tablecloth. LOL Jamin heard back on his first assignment from Christian Writers Guild. Josiah went into work early. We ended up eating at Burger King tonight - the littles had been begging as they are used to meeting Dad for lunch at BK...and haven't for a couple of months now. Since I realized the chicken wasn't going to magically jump out of the stock pot as a pot pie....I packed them up for BK. I planned to figure out how to replace a toilet flush handle/hardware...but Jamin had pity on me and FIXED IT!!! HE figured it out. Yay. I love crossing things off my list without lifting a finger. ::snort::

Hey - another of my books has found a new home through PBS.

Guess that's it for now. I must admit that things are feeling overwhelming today. I keep thinking of all the things I NEED to do....mail portfolios, pay bills, work on lap books, play with the kids in the park.....and I feel like I'm slipping behind...but really I KNOW that this is because I'm tired, Stacia is sick and things can wait.....Thanks for the reminder, Darshia. I do tend to be list driven if I don't watch it.

PUMPKINS

I got 3 pie pumpkins yesterday. We don't like pumpkin pie but we do like the spices...so I'm thinking here....anyone care to send their favorite pumpkin muffins, bread, bar or whatever else recipes? The pumpkins are baking...on with the rest of the day...

I will go print Emily's from her blog. {g}

Stacia update

She was up a lot until 2 a.m. She fell asleep then and just now woke up at nearly 10:00 a.m. She does still have a fever. . .lower than it was last night. We'll be spending another day at home.....I'm determined to make it count.

Weigh In

Yesterday was weigh in day. I didn't loose a thing. That makes 5 lbs lost in 4 weeks (all in the first 2 weeks). I think I'm going to have to figure out how to find time for bike rides....the 8 minutes is slimming inches...that's good... my clothes are about back to the "pre-vacation/deployment" look.....

School Daze - Funny

We are making progress learning the books of the Bible. I simply have to share this - and have premission.....

In Nolan's Bible there is a I and II Sam (not Samuel).

In Arielle's Bible there is a book titled "At least he asked us" (ecclesiastics).

Arielle's ready to begin learning the major prophet books. Nolan is working on th history books.

I'm ready to begin the major prophets too. Hey - Mike - do you have these memorized? If not, the littles are going to smoke you when you get home....the older boys don't seem to have entered the contest. {g}

Parenting/ Discipline in Proverbs - Chapter 7

7:1 - 3 "My son keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. Keep my commandments and live and my teaching as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart...."

7:4 - Wisdom is a sister; understanding is an intimate friend

7:5 - words, commandments and teachings of father/mother should keep son from adulteress

7:24 - "Now, therefore, my sons listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth."

~Command and teaching same words studied in proverbs 6.

~In the new covenant God promises to write His law on my heart; my commands and teachings should be in agreement with His teachings and should also be written on my child's heart....

~My teachings should reach the very center of my child's existence...not just an intellect assent to what I'm saying....

~If a child is NOT listening or paying attention it is a call to prayer! I must evaluate how and what I'm teaching; if child's heart is heard and I'm sure I'm teaching in a God-centered and God-natured way; intense prayer and fasting are in order....for me to receive wisdom and correction where necessary and for my child's heart to soften.

PARENTING/DISCIPLINE in Proverbs - Chapter 6
(OK I'm using TINY font and this is showing HUGE - not sure what else to do - sorry LOL)

6:20 - "My son, observe the commandment (4687) of your father and do not forsake the teaching (law KJV - 8451) of your mother."

6:21 - "Bind them continually on your heart, tie them around your neck."

6:22 - "When you walk about they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake they will talk to you."

6:23 - For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is a light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life.....

~Discipline - a good time to remember that our discipline, teaching, training of our children is to be theocentric (God Centered) and theofugal (God Natured) - see previous rod posts under parenting for complete word study.

~I am NOT to take lightly my responsibility as a parent.

~Mike's commandments and my teaching (law) must agree!!! (Word studies to follow)

~My teaching should enhance Mike's commands; not compete with his commands or disagree with them

~If I wife believes her dh's teachings are wrong she should pray and humbly address it with her husband. She should NOT dishonor her husband to her children and sow strife in her family. (This would really work both ways - I'm guessing - but if you've married a godly man his commandments will be centered on the Word of God - so if you are straining at his commandments you may have a bigger heart issue to deal with yourself.)

~a wife who sows disrespect by disdaining her husband will reap dishonor and disrespect from her children (this would seem to apply with a godly or ungodly husband - note I am not addressing abusive situations here). I guess what I'm trying to say is that regardless of your quarrel with a husband, regardless of who is right or wrong...children should not be seen as pawns to get on your side to strengthen your position. If there is a problem or disagreement in the home between spouses....we must pray, fast and address it....not allow it to fester while we may snide comments in our children's hearing.

Solomon goes on to give concrete examples of teaching.

6:21/22 Commandments and teachers are to reach my child's heart! they are to affect all areas of his life.

~Am I getting through? If not, it is worth making this a matter of prayer and fasting. Actually, I do fast weekly for my children/husband/marriage. I share that so that you know that real people do take these matters seriously....and if you have me on a pedestal - take me down. I'm a real flesh and blood woman with fears, failures and sins like anyone else.

commandment - 4687 - miswah -
Strongs - precept, command, law
Dr. Zodhiates - body of teachings - most often used of God's laws (Pentateuch - first 5 books of Bible).

law (Kjv) teaching (nasb) 8451 - torah
Strongs - precept, statute, law
Dr. Z - instruction, direction, law, whole law, from the very yaroh - meaning to teach/instruct. "Instructions in a general way from God".

Commands of father spoken of here are to be God's commands - not a father's willy nilly decrees.....but....again...if you feel your dh is in error you are not allowed to dishonor him.

Teachings of mother here are also to be based on God's word and His law....not namby pamby current child psychology....

Commands - may be the underlying principles that guide our home
Teachings - the daily instructions that make those principles real and concrete in our home

Commands are a lamp - teachings are a light -

Further Study: I'll have to do some further study on those words/concepts/word pictures and meditating (marinating) on the Word.